Computer Mechanix Blue Ridge Technology Blog

Windows 7 are the Gremlin's gone?

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:57:00 +0000

It's been a long time coming, but on October 22nd Windows 7 will officially be released to the public! It's a long time coming because the release of Win7 comes 3 days shy of Windows XP's 8 year anniversary. Yes that's 8 years ago! If computers were cars, that would be like Toyota keeping the Camry relatively unchanged for nearly 40 years!

The car pictured here is the 1969 Toyota Crown, imagine if the only changes to this car since it's release in 69 was airbags, anti-lock brakes and an FM radio to go along with the AM it came standard with. Time for an upgrade right? Well not quite 2 years ago Microsoft released Windows Vista and as long as I'm on this whole cars as comparison kick here's what I think Vista was like...

The 2000 Ford Excursion. Yes in car years Vista is a decade old. Now for my real reasons for comparing it to this behemoth; Simply put, both are gas guzzling lumbering monsters. The Excursion could weigh in as much as 9200lbs, a 2000 Camry 3100lbs! Vista was dog slow when it was released, and like an Excursion with a suburbanite at the wheel it crashed often and without warning.

Nearly three years later Microsoft seems to have gotten it right this time.

It's fast, I can easily install it on 4 year old hardware without bringing that computer to it's knees. Windows 7 runs on pretty much anything with at least 1GB of RAM and a 1GHz processor. Granted I wouldn't suggest running it on a 1GHz processor but my netbook with a 1.6GHz Atom processor and 2GB of RAM runs it as (if not faster) than it ran Windows XP.
It's slick, the new Windows 7 interface does take some getting used to, but once you do things actually make sense, the pretty is now useful instead of just eye-candy to distract you from the underlying faults. Changes to the interface facilitate working faster and not hunting for the way to make something happen.
It's compatible, When Vista came out tons of old XP software got left for dead. With Windows 7 everything that worked in Vista pretty much still works, amazingly enough a lot of old XP software works too. On top of that several versions of Windows 7 offer an XP virtual desktop, this virtual machine allows you to run a full version of Windows XP within Windows 7, so if you just can't seem to tear yourself away from that 10 year old copy of Myst, or your 7 year old version of Quickbooks fear not you can still run it!
It's 64 bit, yes lots of versions of Vista came standard with 64-bit versions of Windows but I couldn't tell the difference, and drivers were ridiculously hard to find. With Windows 7 I was able to find all the drivers for my computer 8 months ago! While Windows 7 was still in Beta testing I was able to find stable up to date 64-bit drivers for everything from my video card to my iPhone. With widespread availability of fully 64-bit systems we should all see a nice bump in performance. Some of my programs open nearly twice as fast as they did running in 32-bit environments.

So the big question now is, are there any cons? There are a few and I'll try to be as candid as possible with them. There will probably be a bigger list of cons then those pros I just listed but keep in mind that this entire list of cons are really all niggling details.

A lot of Vista's "improved" changes carried over to 7. Networking, display properties, power settings, and the control panel all still take close to twice as many clicks to perform the same task as XP.
There will be a lot of software from the early XP days that just won't work outside the Virtual Machine.
Older printers and scanners especially will find themselves out in the cold.
There are still far too many distinct versions of the software! XP had 2 to start and ended with 3. Windows 7 has 4. For most users though I'll recommend either Home Premium or Professional. The major difference between the two being that Professional adds the Windows XP Virtual Machine.
Even though I said you could install it on old hardware there are a lot of computers still out there with just 512MB of memory. I recommend 2GB-4GB for best performance and 1GB is the minimum.
Older video cards won't get to take advantage of all the pretty transparencies of Windows 7.
Windows 7 like previous versions sold without a new computer are very expensive. Purchasing a new version of Windows 7 Home Premium will set you back $199.99, Professional will cost $299.99. The upgrades are a little better at $119.99 and $199.99 respectivly but you must either have Vista currently installed or have your original Windows install disk available. System Restore disks WILL NOT work.
Lastly and perhaps most importantly is that if you're moving from Vista to Windows 7 the upgrade process is fairly easy allowing the program for the most part to install over Vista leaving all of your music, pictures, videos and applications working as before (a backup is still strongly recommended). Everybody running XP though will be forced to backup their data and install 7 from scratch, reinstalling all of their programs and migrating data to the new OS.

Computer Mechanix, Inc. is planning to help users upgrade to Windows 7 by offering the software below our own cost or even for free! Make sure to check out Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to determine if you're currently capable of making the change. If you don't have enough memory or need a bigger hard drive we can help you with those upgrades for the price of materials only during the upgrade process!

If you are currently running Windows Vista and would like us to upgrade you to Windows 7

Full version of Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit or 64-bit for $99.99!
Full version of Windows 7 Professional 32-bit or 64-bit for $139.99!

If you are currently running Windows Vista or Windows XP and would like us to install Windows 7 from scratch without saving any data or reinstalling any programs.

Full version of Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit or 64-bit for $49.99!
Full version of Windows 7 Professional 32-bit or 64-bit for $89.99!

If you are currently running Windows Vista or Windows XP and would like us to install Windows 7 from scratch while saving all of your data and/or all of your compatible programs.

We'll give you your choice of Windows 7 for FREE!!

Once again, check out Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to determine if you're currently capable of making the change. If you don't have enough memory or need a bigger hard drive we can help you with those upgrades for the price of materials only during the upgrade process!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment in Buncombe County fill out our appointment form, send us an email contact@computermechanix.com or call us at 828-281-4379 today!

Most common question

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Lately the most common problem that I run into is the Smitfraud malware infection. Check out Maleware, Spyware, and Viruses OH MY! to learn a bit more about this particular baddie. Along with this bit of malware infecting everybody from children to grandparents nobody seems to know how they got it. They all say the same thing. "it just appeared".

Well folks I can finally shed just a little more light on the subject. Yesterday I was surfing to one of my favorite social networking sites when out of nowhere a window pops up and says...
Now what most people seem to do at this point is simply click "OK" so they can keep doing what they were doing, but that is obviously the WORST thing you could do at this point. Even clicking "Cancel" these days can still get you in a world of hurt. The best recommendation is to do the following:
1. look down in your task bar, and locate the program you're using to browse the web. It's most likley either Internet Explorer or Firefox. Right click it and choose "close".
2. If 1 didn't work press the CTRL, ALT, and Delete keys all at the same time. in XP the Task Manager will open, if you're running Vista choose Task Manager from the list. In the Task Manager look for either IEXPLORE.EXE or FIREFOX.EXE, once you've found it right click on it and choose "End Process Tree" this should close any open browsers.

If you keep seeing the same pop up, stop going to that site. At least for a few days. The problem is that this piece of malware is most likely coming through an ad of some kind. Once the site realizes the ad they'll remove it, or it will rotate out of their site on it's own.

Good luck!

We can now beat Dell's prices!

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:33:00 +0000

How would you like the following computer?

Windows XP Home SP3
Intel Core 2 Duo processor @ 3.16GHz
2GB DDR2 RAM
20x DVD Burner
320GB Hard Drive
ATI HD3450 Video Card
500W Power supply

Sounds pretty good right? If you were to order this system from Dell today it would cost you $814 and that's if you could find the best deal hidden deep in their site. Well today from Computer Mechanix, Inc. we're offering the same system with higher quality components for only $700!

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

Maleware, Spyware, and Viruses OH MY!

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:43:00 +0000

This is probably the single most confusing subject for most computer users. What are the differences, how are they the same, what do I need to protect myself and how do I get them are the most common questions I get regarding these three computer bad guys. My next three installments will be about each type. Where they may come from, what to look for and what to do if you find yourself infected.

The first on the list is going to be Malware. Which today really is the most prevalent of the three. It is also the easiest to become infected by and can be the hardest to get ride of. Malware is defined by Wikipedia as such;

Malware, is a relatively new word formed from the words malicious and software, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.

Malware is also often transmitted along with viruses and trojan horses. They work together to infect your system, to spread to other systems and to elude detection from your security software. It is transmitted almost exclusively through websites and files you may or may not know that you are downloading from websites. It's rare for you to get maleware from a disk, or through an email. One of the worst and currently one of the most prevalant types of maleware is called Smitfraud. Though it may also be known by any one of nearly 100 names as Smitfraud is the underlying nardowell, while what you may see on the surface appears to actually be a legitimate program.... confused? Perhaps it would be simpliar if I walked you through a potential infection. Where you may have gotten it and what it will come across looking like.

Imagine yourself browsing through the wide web looking for funny and interesting videos. You end up at a site you may be familiar with, and while trying to get the video to play you're instructed to install a program so that you can watch it. The program is called Adobe Flash which you've heard is a safe program. You click the link offered to you, install the program and your video plays.

The next day you get on your computer and there is a little shield that may look like either of these.

It's accompanied by a pop up warning that you've been infected, that you're in danger, that you must act quickly to save your computer from damage. You may see a box come up showing you that your computer has been scanned and it's infected with dozens or even hundreds of viruses or spyware. Then once you're good and scared a very official program will come up telling you that your Antivirus program needs to be activated, renewed or in some way paid for to protect you from this assult.

And this is when you run and grab your credit card, type the number in as quick as you can and before you know it you've just paid the person who infected your system in the first place. Granted the pop-ups and scary notices may go away, but you have in effect just paid a ransom.

The best thing you can do at this point is call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Most companies will remove it as nobody will dispute your charge back. The second thing you should do is make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a full system scan. I'll be honest with you here, that probably won't fix it, but depending on the varient you have it just might. You can also try running a system restore to several days before the problem started. This also has limited effectiveness but again it can't hurt, and it might save you further costs.

If your Antivirus is expired, many years old or you just don't know, it's time to call a professional. Unfortunatly with the broad variety of malware out there, repairs can be as simple as a 30 minute visit, or as complex as requiring that your entire system be backed up and wiped clean to banish every trace. There really isn't any way to know the answer to that question until the simple fixes have been exhausted.

The best way to protect yourself is to pay attention. Here are a few ways to be proactive in protecting your computer.

Don't install programs from websites you don't know. If www.flashmoviesforfun.com wants you to install Adobe Flash, go to Adobe's webiste and install it there. Don't trust a site you aren't familiar with to download safe products.
When you're surfing the internet and a box pops up don't just click yes because it's there. Read the pop up and try using the X in the upper right hand corner if you aren't comfortable with the pop ups legitimacy.
If it's too good to be true, it probably is. There is a lot of good free software out there on the net, but if you know Microsoft charges $400 for it's Office 2007 program, and you find it for free somewhere else, there's probably something not right there.
Keep your antivirus updated! Too many people let their antivirus program expire. If you can't afford a great paid software program like Norton's latest Internet Security 2009, try a good free program like AVG, or Avast. They may be slower, or not as customizable but they're better than a paid program 2 years out of date!

With these thoughts in mind and a little common sense you should be able to stay maleware free! Stay tuned next time for information on spyware.

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

If you think you might have any of the Smitfraud varients, check this list for some of the more common ones:
Advanced Antivirus, AdwarePunisher, AdwareSheriff, AlphaCleaner, AntiSpyCheck, AntiSpyware Expert, Antispyware Soldier, AntiVermeans, AntiVermins, AntiVerminser, AntiVirGear, Antivirus 2009, Antivirus 2010, Antivirus 360, AntiVirus Lab 2009, Antivirus Master, Antivirus Sentry, Antivirus XP 2008, AntivirusGolden, AVGold, Awola, BraveSentry, IE Defender, IE-Security, Internet Antivirus, MalwareCrush, MalwareWipe, MalwareWiped, MalwaresWipeds, MalwareWipePro, MalwareWiper, Micro Antivirus 2009, MS Antivirus, PC Protection Center 2008, Personal Defender 2009, PestCapture, PestTrap, Power Antivirus, Power-Antivirus-2009, PSGuard, quicknavigate.com, Registry Cleaner, Security iGuard, Smart Antivirus 2009, Smitfraud, Spy Protector, SpyAxe, SpyCrush, SpyDown, SpyFalcon, SpyGuard, SpyHeal, SpyHeals, SpyLocked, SpyMarshal, SpySheriff, SpySoldier, Spyware Guard 2008, Spyware Vanisher, Spyware Soft Stop, SpywareLocked, SpywareQuake, SpywareKnight, SpywareRemover, SpywareSheriff, SpywareStrike, Startsearches.net, System Antivirus 2008, TheSpyBot, TitanShield Antispyware, Total Protect 2009, Total Secure 2009, Trust Cleaner, Ultimate Antivirus 2008, UpdateSearches.com, Virtual Maid, Virus Heat, Virus Protect, Virus Protect Pro, VirusBlast, VirusBurst, VirusRay, Virus Remover 2008, VirusResponse Lab 2009, VirusTrigger, Win32.puper, WinHound, Vista Antivirus 2008, WinDefender 2009, XLG Security Center, XP Security Center, XPert Antivirus, XP Police Antivirus, Brain Codec, ChristmasPorn, DirectAccess, DirectVideo, EliteCodec, eMedia Codec, EZVideo, FreeVideo, Gold Codec, HQ Codec, iCodecPack, IECodec, iMediaCodec, Image ActiveX Object, Image Add-on, IntCodec, iVideoCodec, JPEG Encoder, Key Generator, LookForPorn, Media-Codec, MediaCodec, MMediaCodec, MovieCommander, MPCODEC, My Pass Generator, NetProject, Online Image Add-on, Online Video Add-on, PCODEC, Perfect Codec, PowerCodec, PornPass Manager, PornMag Pass, Pornovid, PrivateVideo, QualityCodec, Silver Codec, SearchPorn, SexVid, SiteEntry, SiteTicket, SoftCodec, strCodec, Super Codec, TrueCodec, VideoAccess, VideoBox, VidCodecs, Video Access ActiveX Object, Video ActiveX Object, Video Add-on, VideoCompressionCodec, VideoKeyCodec, VideosCodec, WinAntiSpyPro, WinMediaCodec, X Password Generator, X Password Manager, ZipCodec

Macs don't get viruses!

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:56:00 +0000

First let me start out by saying that I'm actually writing this blog on a gorgeous Unibody MacBook, and that I find OS X to be superior to Windows Vista in many ways. Tomorrow though I could be updating from my PC running Windows 7 Beta saying that there are just some things you can't do on a mac like you can on a PC.

With that said, Macs have been hit heavily recently by a new bug known as OSX.Trojan.iServices.A found in pirated copies of iWork '09. Granted this isn't a "virus" persay, it's a Trojan Horse that connects to remote servers over the internet, so a malicious remote user will know that the program has been installed. The malicious user will be able to connect to the infected Mac and perform various actions; the Trojan horse may also download additional components to an infected Mac.

For a full explanation of the how, why and fix check out Macworld's article

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

Data recovery, it works... kind of.

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:49:00 +0000

From time to time I'll post experiences with new technology or services that I run into while performing my job. I can't say that they'll be often but when I do run across interesting or informative information I'll be sure to pass it along here so keep your eyes peeled!

The first thing I have to talk about is data recovery services. For years now I've been aware of companies that will recover data from damaged hard drives that have simply stopped working or were dropped, burned or even just erased. The companies all seem to charge about the same and all of those prices start at over $1000!

Recently I had the opportunity to put the biggest and most well known company Kroll Ontrack to the test. One of my clients was running a web server through a third party who forgot the server was on this computer and wiped it clean and reinstalled windows on it. YIKES! Now this is probably the worst case scenario for data recovery as not only does the information get deleted but when you reinstall everything it overwrites the old data making much of it unrecoverable. Unlike drives that simply stop working where the data is safe and secure inside the now defunct enclosure. Kind of like a car with no wheels, the engine, AC, radio and everything else work just fine but it's not much of a car if you can't make it move.

So I was tasked by this client to work with Ontrack to attempt recovery. The service was very professional, and quick. They partner with UPS stores to ship the drive to them for free overnight. The data is analyzed and a report is emailed showing what files they can recover. We gave them a go ahead to retrieve the data and 5 DVD's were overnight shipped back to me.

Unfortunately for us the data they recovered was not what we had hopped it was and after a short conversation with my contact at Ontrack to verify everything had been recovered that could be they issues a credit for the total of $1550.

My thoughts on the whole experience are positive even though the end result was that the client did not get the data they needed. I knew from the beginning that their situation was the worst possible and didn't have high hopes for recovery. Ontrack was very helpful, quick courteous and really my only complaint was that they made me fax agreements to them 3 separate times. Faxing? Really? You'd think that a technology company would offer other options besides faxes.

I will use them again, well that is if I ever have another client who doesn't pass out at the thought of forking over $1500 for the data they didn't backup.

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

Computer Mechanix once again supports Windows 98 and Windows Millenium Edition (Me).

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:09:00 +0000

Computer Mechanix restarts support for Windows 98 and Windows Me.

After ceasing support in July, many of our customers who still owned Windows PCs with Windows 98 and Windows Millenium Edition (Me) were worried that they would no longer have any way to keep those machines running. We have decided to restart our support for machines running Windows 98 and Windows Me in an effort to provide the high level of service our clients have come to expect.

What you should know about our support for Windows 98/Me.

If you have a machine with Windows 98 or Windows Me, we recommend NOT using it on the Internet if it is your primary computer and/or if it has private information on it. Microsoft no longer provides patches or updates to properly secure any operating system made before Windows 2000. This means we cannot guarantee your system will be secure if it runs earlier operating systems. That being said, we will continue to diagnose & repair software and hardware problems on these machines until otherwise stated.

Microsoft stops support of Windows 98 and Windows Millenium Edition.

Within March 2006, Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 98 by retiring public and technical support, including security patches. Because of this, Computer Mechanix can no longer guarantee any system's security if it is running Windows 98. On July 11, 2006, Microsoft stopped offering public, technical, and security support for Windows Millenium Edition so the same security issues apply.

For more information, please click here to open a news article in a new window.

What operating systems does Computer Mechanix currently support?

As of February 9, 2007, Computer Mechanix supports:

Windows PCs running:
- Windows 98
- Windows Millenium Edition
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows 2000 Server Edition
- Windows XP (all versions - Home, Professional, Media Center, etc.)
- Windows 2003 Server
- Windows Vista (all versions)

Mac PCs running:
- All versions of Apple Mac OS/X (version 10.0 and newer)

What operating systems do you not support?

Windows PCs:
- We do not support Microsoft Windows 95 and anything before.

Mac PCs:
- We do not support any Mac operating system prior to the first release of OS/X.

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

By Eric Jacobson

Adware, Spyware and Pop-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 13:58:00 +0000

Really, how bad is the situation with spyware right now?

In the fall of 2004, America Online joined forces with the National Cyber Security Alliance, a nonprofit organization that analyzes the security of computer users in the United States, in an effort to determine how well people think they're protected against the different types of attacks they can suffer while using the Internet. They surveyed 329 people from across the country and then sent PC technicians to their houses to see how closely the system status matched the answers given in the survey. Here are some of the completely terrifying results:

· Only 85% of survey respondents were running antivirus software; only 29% were actually up-to-date with the newest virus definitions and program updates.

· 19% (almost 1 in 5) of those systems surveyed were infected with at least one virus.

· 80% of respondents had some type of spyware on their computers.

· According to Symantec, if you connected an unprotected PC to the Internet in 2003, it would be attacked within 15 minutes. By 2004, that figure had dropped to 15 seconds.

Source: 2004 America Online/National Cyber Security Alliance.

Here at Computer Mechanix, the majority of our clients have some kind of spyware. In fact, most clients who believe they have a virus on their computer because it is running so slowly actually only have adware and spyware.

Basically, no matter how bad you think the situation is, it's actually worse than you think.

What is Adware and Spyware?

Adware and Spyware are tiny programs that install themselves automatically onto your computer. Businesses use them to keep track of where you visit and what you buy so they can market to you better. Some adware and spyware is particularly malicious and cause your browser to go to a different home page or, in some cases, actually do damage to your computer. In addition, they can make pop-up advertisements jump on to your screen even when you’re not online. Spyware and adware is constantly evolving so the symptoms will evolve, too.

What are Pop-ups?

If you’ve been online, chances are you’ve seen a pop-up. A pop-up (or pop-up advertisement) occurs when you go to a website and another browser window pops up over the one you’re currently viewing and you didn’t click on a link or other button to make it pop up. Pop-ups are almost as old as the World Wide Web itself and have been a way to squeeze extra advertising into a website.

How do I get this stuff?

Simply surfing the Internet even a small amount will expose your computer to spyware and adware. Getting these programs is practically unavoidable. Surefire ways to get lots of spyware and adware is by installing programs from particularly shady companies or by using P2P (Point-To-Point) File Sharing programs like KaZaa, Morpheus or Gnutella. The easiest way for a nefarious computer programmer to get you to install spyware and adware on your computer is to hide it in a computer program that seems useful. At Computer Mechanix, we’ve seen a number of clients with pop-up ads on their computer that are a result from having installed particular pop-up blockers that started the pop-up advertisements after the trial period for the software was over.

How do I avoid spyware, what should I tell my kids about surfing the Internet?

Basically, if the link looks like it could lead somewhere fun or neat and it doesn't cost money, don't click on it. Here are some good rules of thumb to follow while surfing the Internet:

· Never download screensavers or backgrounds from a site where that's all they offer.

· Never play games that are available for free online (particularly Casino-based games).

· Very malignant spyware exists primarily in downloadable "free" programs -- Many screensaver programs, weather programs, and search bars contain spyware and adware.

· Never, EVER click on popups that advertise software to rid yourself of spyware, adware or even stop more popups. These popups are created by the very spyware you have on your computer to try and scam you into buying the software made by the companies that gave you the spyware in the first place!

Unfortunately, there are no tried and true methods of avoiding spyware altogether. It is rapidly becoming an unfortunate fact of life for those of us who use the Internet (in other words, everyone's a target). The important issue at hand is that the spyware is removed after it's installed on your computer.

How can I get rid of all of this?

There are a number of popup blockers and spyware/adware removal programs on the market. Some are good. Some are not. Venturing into this territory without a professional can result in further damage to your computer instead of fixing the problem. At Computer Mechanix, we are professionals in knowing what programs work and what don’t and can clean your computer efficiently and effectively. In addition, we can teach you how to use the programs. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online today.

By Eric Jacobson

File-Sharing: The Cold Hard Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Thu, 12 May 2005 13:13:00 +0000

What is File-Sharing?

File-Sharing is the name given to programs that allow users to share files with other users on the Internet. At least one of the examples of these programs is a household word: Napster. Napster enabled people to share the music on their hard drives with other Napster users and then download music from those other users' hard drives.

File-Sharing originally developed as a way for software developers to distribute their free or shareware programs with others on the Internet. It has also evolved into a good method for musicians to release singles onto the Internet if they choose to do so.

What's the big problem with it? Is it legal?

File-Sharing is only legal if the creator of the file is allowing it to be shared publicly. For example, Adobe's Reader program is a free program that the company Adobe allows to be shared publicly so that everyone can read Adobe Acrobat files on their computers. Adobe does not, however, allow the program that creates Acrobat files (called Acrobat Professional) to be shared.

The problem comes when people share files and music that are not part of the public domain; in other words, they are not free. When people share copies of software, video games, MP3s, WMAs, or any other type of file that costs money to purchase, they are breaking the law. It is not legal to share files, music, or programs of any kind that cost money.

Wasn't it legal back when Napster originally started?

No. File-Sharing has never been legal. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been instrumental in cracking down on those who are still sharing files using existing Peer-To-Peer (P2P) software packages. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (2000) has implemented a number of extremely harsh penalties for anyone caught illegally file-sharing including fines and prison sentences.

In fact, copyright laws against piracy within the music industry have existed since the advent of audiotapes in the late 1950s and 1960s:

It is against the law to make copy of a CD, tape, or record and give it to a friend, coworker, or other person.

It is against the law to make a mix-tape or mix-CD and give it to a friend, coworker, or other person.

Both of the above activities have penalties as severe as those given to people who file-share. The only reason we don't hear more about cases involving these issues is that it is far easier to catch people who participate in file-sharing.

Is Napster still illegal?

No. Napster was purchased by a large media conglomerate who reprogrammed and recreated the service so that you pay for the songs you download. Napster is no longer illegal to use.

How can I avoid breaking the law?

Simple: do not download or participate in file-sharing of any kind. Downloading music using programs such as KaZaa, Gnutella, Mozilla, or Morpheus is against the law. In addition, since it is extremely difficult to determine which files are public domain and which are not, you could be very easily breaking the law while having no knowledge that you are. In addition, poorly-configured P2P software can open your computer to hackers and allow bad people to have access to sensitive information on your computer such as credit card numbers, banking information, pin numbers, and worse.

How can I download music from the Internet legally?

There are a wide variety of websites that now allow you to download music legally for a fee. Sometimes the fee is a monthly subscription price while other sites charge a small fee per each song downloaded. Here are some services we recommend (click the links to open a new browser window) listed alphabetically:

BuyMusic by buy.com

iTunes by Apple

MP3.com

Napster 2.0 (this one is now legal as it has a fee)

Rhapsody by Real.com

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

By Eric Jacobson

Spam

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 13:53:00 +0000

What is spam?

Spam is the name given to any email sent to you that you didn’t want. Typically, it’s the email equivalent of telemarketers – trying to sell you something you probably don’t want or need. Worse than that, spam can also contain computer viruses that can do severe damage to your computer’s operating system.

What is phishing?

Phishing (pronounced "fishing") refers to fraudulent communications designed to deceive consumers into divulging personal, financial, or account information, including account user name and password, credit card information, and social security number. E-mail is most commonly used for phishing due to its low cost, greater anonymity for the sender, the ability to reach a large target group instantly, and the potential to solicit an immediate response. However, fraudsters have also used online pop-up windows, direct mail and phone calls.

Phishing e-mails often appear to come from legitimate financial institutions, insurance companies or retailers. Techniques such as a false "from" address, the use of seemingly authentic logos from financial institutions, or Web links and graphics may be used to mislead consumers into believing that they are dealing with a legitimate request for personal information. These fraudulent e-mails often create a false sense of urgency intended to provoke the recipient to take immediate action; for example, phishing e-mails frequently instruct recipients to "validate" or "update" account information or face cancellation.

Why do spammers send spam?

Spammers (the name given to people who send spam) send spam in order to build up clientele for the businesses they represent. Just like telephone numbers, huge lists of email addresses are compiled and sold to companies to bombard unsuspecting Internet users with thousands of useless email offers.

Are Dial-Up users safer than Broadband users?

Nope. Spammers don’t care what you’re using to connect to the Internet as long as you’re downloading email.

How can I protect myself?

First, if you buy online, be careful from where you buy stuff. Companies like Amazon, Buy.com, and other MAJOR retailers are very careful and probably won’t send you spam. Shadier companies are far more tricky to deal with. If the company doesn’t have a brand name (or a public information-sharing agreement like Computer Mechanix’s), chances are they’ll send you spam.

Second, be careful if you’re an eBay user or write to the newsgroups. To protect yourself, get a free email account from Yahoo or Hotmail and use it when writing to newsgroups or selling on eBay. Spammers will scour the newsgroups and eBay sales pages for viable email addresses.

Third, never ever click on the “Take me off your list” link that you can find at the bottom of most spam. This tells the spammers that there is a real person at your email address and you actually read your email. The links only work from reputable companies where you may have signed up for their email list. If they’re trying to sell you prescription drugs for less, chances are they’ll take your email address and give it to all their buddies so they can spam you, too.

Fourth, if you’re like the majority of computer users out there, you’ve already got spam bombarding your email account on a daily, hourly, or minute-by-minute basis. It’s way too late for any of the above techniques (though it doesn’t hurt to employ them now). Fortunately, companies have made anti-spam software that effectively removes spam from your inbox and moves it to a folder where you can delete it without looking at it. Computer Mechanix can easily install our preferred anti-spam software package on your computer for a competitive rate. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

By Eric Jacobson

3D Accelerators

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 13:16:00 +0000

The History of 3D Accelerators – In Brief

At Computer Mechanix, games are the best way to figure out what specifications our newest computers need to have. Back when Woody and I started gaming on our computers, video cards weren’t much more than a glimmer in the engineers’ eyes. All video games were efficiently programmed to run on pretty much every available computer system. As long as you had the processor and the memory, you knew you could run any video game out there. Of course, back in those days, the idea of a CD-ROM was years off and it would be even longer still before games stopped coming out on floppy disks (sometimes even those “floppy floppies” that were black and held a whopping 1.2MB).

Those days are long gone. Thanks to a company named Voodoo in the mid-1990s, the world was introduced to the 3D accelerator, a video card that was built with 3D graphics in mind. With the introduction of the 3D accelerator, video game companies started getting lazy and decided that they wouldn’t optimize their programming to run on any computer – only the biggest and baddest gaming rigs need apply.

As the late 1990s came upon us, other video card manufacturers jumped into the fray with a huge number of choices existing as we headed into the new millennium. Fortunately, those days are behind us, too, as the lesser-quality technology fell out of the industry along with the days of pets.com and groceries-delivered-to-your-door.com. Right now, there are only two main video chip manufacturers – ATI and Nvidia. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “If there are only two manufacturers, why do I see so many different brands of video cards?” Simple. Both ATI and Nvidia have licensed their 3D accelerator chips so that other people can make the cards, too. Ever since the advent of the 3D accelerator, computers have evolved to become consistently faster – not to keep up with business applications but to keep up with the more important part of computing – video games and multimedia entertainment.

What exactly are 3D Accelerators?

3D accelerators used to be additional video cards that you would put in your computer so that when you tried to play a game with 3D graphics, the accelerator card would take over video processing duties and run your games. Then, when you quit the game, your main video card (or 2D accelerator) would take over basic operating system duties.

As 3D accelerators evolved, the companies that created them started making cards that could handle both two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphics. All of today’s 3D accelerators are 2D/3D combination cards; the days of separate cards are long gone.

The 3D accelerator is actually a collection of different chips on processors on the video card itself that have been specifically designed to handle the high-end mathematics of calculating three-dimensional objects and tracking their movement through space.

What is the difference between ATI and Nvidia?

Ah. A big question. The difference between ATI and Nvidia changes depending on which generation of video card you’re talking about. ATI’s lineup is usually called Radeon while Nvidia’s is called GeForce. Up until Q1 2004, you could judge which card was best depending on the number after the name. ATI’s leader was called the Radeon 9800 (with cards numbered 9200-9700 as well) while Nvidia’s top contender was called the GeForce 5950XT. Both companies have since released their newest video cards – the ATI Radeon X800 series and the Nvidia GeForce 6800 series. When it comes to the performance differences between the two, you’re going to have to do your research or check out our reviews sections. Both companies have strengths and weaknesses, and depending on your budget, one card will invariably suit your needs better.

Do I really need a 3D accelerator if I don’t have one?

Not yet. However, the next version of Windows, due in Fall 2006, will require a 3D accelerator to see it in all of its gorgeous Microsoft glory. Yes, your operating system will require a 3D accelerator. Right now, if you don’t play games, you don’t really need a 3D accelerator. However, if there’s anyone in your family who wants to play any of the big games like Half-Life 2 or Doom 3, you won’t just need a regular 3D accelerator, you’ll need one of the fastest out there.

Where can I get one?

Glad you asked. At Computer Mechanix, we’re more than happy to help you pick out the best video card for your needs, whether your needs happen to be in video games, computer-aided drafting, or just business applications. Give us a call at 828-281-4379 or email us directly at contact@computermechanix.com.

By Eric Jacobson

Viruses

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Mon, 31 May 2004 13:14:00 +0000

What is a computer virus?

A computer virus is a piece of software (a computer program) created by someone with bad intentions to purposely damage or confuse computers and computer systems.

How do they work?

Viruses work in a multitude of different ways: they can damage important operating system files, they can collect important information about the users of the computers the viruses infect and send it back to the author, they can produce annoying pop-up advertisements (even when you’re not on the Internet), they can crash websites, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. After infecting your computer, they spread themselves to other computers by using your Internet connection when you’re online. Viruses almost always spread themselves. They can send emails (without you even opening your email program) to everyone in your address book from you that contain the virus. They can also spread through other connections that your computer maintains to the Internet.

How do I get infected?

Most viruses infect computers through application files of some kind (attachment files with a .EXE or .SCR extension are the most typical). The user of the computer (you) has to physically open the application file. Most viruses come through as an attachment to an email message. However, since 2003, viruses have become more advanced and can actually infect your computer through open connections to the Internet.

Why do people write them?

People can write viruses to collect important information (like credit card numbers) for malicious intent, to see how many computers they can infect and, in some cases, people write viruses to crash websites (like the Blaster worm of August 2003 which was written to crash Microsoft’s website).

Are Macs safe?

No. Macs are no longer safe. In the past, virus writers targeted Windows computers because there are more computers with Windows than there are with Apple’s Operating System. However, Apple’s new operating system (OS X or OS 10) is based on UNIX, an operating system that has often been the target of virus writers as it is widely used in major businesses. Because of this, virus writers have figured out how to infect Macintosh computers and write almost as many viruses for Macintosh computers as they do for computers that use Windows.

Are broadband (cable, DSL, or other direct connection) users more at risk?

Yes, but only slightly. Because most viruses are spread via email, Dial-Up users are just as likely to receive an email message with an infected attachment as broadband users are. Viruses that infect computers through other forms of Internet connections are more likely to find and infect broadband users because cable and DSL connections are always on.

How can I protect myself?

Get a virus scanner. In the old days, saavy computer users could avoid catching viruses by being extremely careful. This is no longer the case and every computer should be equipped with up-to-date virus scanners. Computer Mechanix uses Norton AntiVirus exclusively for both Windows and Apple computers. In addition to using a virus scanner, be very careful about opening application files that are attached to emails. Emails sent by viruses are often very conspicuous. Though they will often come from someone you know, the email itself will be very suspicious. A good rule-of-thumb is to simply avoid opening attachment applications unless you’ve spoken with the sender on the phone or in-person and they’ve told you they’re sending you an application in your email. It's extremely important to remember to update your virus definitions regularly. Newer versions of Norton will auto-update, however it doesn't hurt to check your program to make sure it has recently-dated virus definitions (anything over ten (10) days old is too old).

Are all virus scanners created equal?

No. Be very, very wary of trusting online virus scanners. They are not as efficient as scanners that you install directly on your computer. In addition, Computer Mechanix has found that virus scanners made by companies other than Norton are often not as effective at catching viruses, or, in some cases, can cause other problems to your computer (like preventing you from accessing the Internet entirely or, worse, crashing your operating system).

How do I know if I have a virus?

A good rule of thumb on this subject is that if you think you have a computer virus, you probably do. Viruses interfere with activities on your computer from slowing it down to regularly accessing your email program. If you're seeing strange things on your computer (lots of popups, Norton AntiVirus popping up over and over again, etc.) then you probably have a virus. Have no fear, however, as Computer Mechanix can repair any computer with, in most cases, no loss of data. Call Computer Mechanix at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

By Eric Jacobson

Firewalls

noreply@blogger.com (Computer Mechanix, Inc.) — Mon, 31 May 2004 13:10:00 +0000

What is a firewall?

A firewall is either a piece of hardware or software that prevents hackers and other online criminals from breaking into your computer through your Internet connection. Every computer and piece of hardware connected to the Internet (like a network printer) has a unique address called an IP (Internet Protocol) address that enables it to access the Internet. All IP addresses are easily accessible on the web and are written in a format like this: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (192.168.1.1, for example). Hackers can find your computer’s IP address by “pinging” your computer. Pinging is like calling a telephone number to see if someone has that number. When the hacker pings your computer, your computer responds by telling the hacker that they are there. The hacker then proceeds to try and break into your computer using programming codes and a number of other techniques. A firewall (either hardware or software) will prevent the hacker from getting a response. Whenever a hacker pings an IP address with a firewall connected to it, he/she will get no response. The firewall prevents hackers from receiving a response to pings. Basically, it’s like calling a phone number and getting a “this number has been disconnected message.”

Who needs a firewall?

Anyone with an “always-on” connection like DSL or Cable needs a firewall. If you have a dial-up connection like Compuserve, AOL Dialup or BellSouth Dialup, a firewall is overkill. “Always-on” connections give users semi-permanent IP addresses that will last for 6-8 weeks at a time. Dial-up connections give users a new IP address every time they log on; hackers wouldn’t be able to break into your computer before you logoff again.

Where can I get a firewall?

If you have an Ethernet router, wireless router, phoneline router, or powerline router, you already have a firewall! It’s built into the router. If you have a hub (very different from a router), you do NOT have a firewall. Don’t assume just because you have a network of multiple computers that can access the Internet at the same time that you have a firewall – ask whoever set up your network whether you have a firewall or not. If you only have one computer, chances are you don’t have a router and, therefore, no firewall. If that’s the case, Computer Mechanix can set you up with a hardware or software-based firewall. Just contact us via email (contact@computermechanix.com) or give us a phone call at 828-281-4379.

Are software firewalls better or worse than hardware firewalls?

A firewall is a firewall. Regardless of what people may tell you, software firewalls are no less effective than hardware firewalls. The big difference is that a software firewall will use some of your computer’s resources (memory and processing speed) while a hardware firewall (which will be external from your computer) uses no resources from your system.

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

By Eric Jacobson